5 Project Management Techniques for

Tackling Your Next Project

Managing a new or existing project can feel overwhelming. Control the chaos with
these top five project management tools and techniques.

Rose Wheeler
CMS, Marketing and eCommerce Expert Updated December 22, 2020

As with many things, there are a number of ways to approach the project
management process. These five techniques are tried-and-true and cover many
types of projects. There’s no one-size-fits-all, so each method brings something
unique to your project.

5 top project management methods you can use:

• PERT project management

• Waterfall technique
• Kanban project management
• Critical Path technique
• Extreme technique

What are project management

techniques?
Project management techniques take raw project management skills and apply
them to a system to make completion easier, achievable, and more realistic. Think
of them as your roadmap or game plan. You have an end goal, and project
management techniques are how you're going to get there.

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 Just like any map or strategy, there is always more than one way to do things.
Because of that, there are multiple project planning tools that can be applied to
different projects.

To determine which method is right for your project, you should first establish your
project's goal and variables. This can include the end date, industry, budget,
project timeline, number of teams, project life cycle, etc. After that's decided, you
can assess different methodologies to see how well your existing variables fit into
a method.

The best project management techniques

to try
These five methods are diverse and can be applied to various circumstances,
some being better fits in some cases than others. No matter the specifications,
though, these five project management techniques are used time and again for a
reason.

1. Program Evaluation and Review

Technique (PERT)
The PERT technique is widely favored because of its visualization component.

The charts are used to represent a project’s timeline in a graphical fashion and
provide at-a-glance understandability. The PERT method lets you create a detailed
plan and then track milestones and progress visually in a chart form.

The PERT method is best suited for long-term projects, where seeing a physical
timeline is helpful, or for larger projects that have unique challenges. These charts
allow you to more easily evaluate time, resources, and plans as a project
progresses.

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 Example of a PERT chart. Source: Search Software Quality

How to use a PERT chart

PERT charts, since they're detailed and specific, have some rules you should
follow to ensure accuracy.

• Pay attention to the visuals: Arrows indicate the flow of events, while dotted
lines represent activities occurring outside of the main timeline on a separate
path. Numbers and timing are recorded inside each segment.
• Timing: Create deadlines and timing with specific vocabulary: "Optimistic
time" is the shortest possible time a project will take, while "pessimistic time"
is the longest possible time. "Most likely time" estimates best-case
completion, while "expected time" takes into account possible problems that
might delay completion.

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 2. Waterfall
The Waterfall technique is an offshoot of classic, straightforward planning with
project management basics, but takes it to a new level. A project is split up in
sequential stages where each stage depends on the completion of a prior one. It’s
linear, meaning it’s intended as “1, 2, then 3…” and doesn’t allow much room for
unexpected changes.

Example phases of the Waterfall project management technique. Source: Lucidchart

This project management methodology is ideal for straightforward work

breakdown structures or projects where you anticipate a few obstacles.

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 You plan out the entire lifecycle of a project, step by step, and follow it through.
Waterfall is similar to Agile in its linear nature but differs in being a complete plan,
rather than a shorter time frame to revisit.

The Waterfall technique keeps project planning simple and allows you to easily
show progress, though it’s not the best choice for more complex projects or ones
with many outside variables.

How to use Waterfall

To implement the Waterfall project management technique, you should put
yourself in a “this then that” mindset. It’s a relatively straightforward practice, but
can be best applied with some simple steps.

• Proper planning: Before you apply steps to a project with Waterfall,

thoroughly plan out your project’s goals and requirements. Once roles are
assigned and milestones planned, breaking up the steps is much easier.
• Closure: Thanks to its software roots, Waterfall planning requires full
completion of one phase before moving onto the next. Once a step is
completed, you can’t revisit it, so make sure you're clear about the project
scope and that revisions shored up before advancing.

3. Kanban
Developed by a Toyota engineer to improve the manufacturing process, the
Kanban project management technique is rooted in teamwork and basic project
management principles. It’s a visual workflow, like PERT, but is set up as a series
of task cards, unlike the graphical nature of PERT.

Kanban is an ideal project management technique for overarching management,

as it encourages continuous delivery and less stress for individual members. It
places emphasis on working together efficiently as a team and is designed as a
visual project board, perfect for plans requiring many steps with many
teammates.

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 How to use Kanban
You can manage projects with Kanban efficiently with individual action items.

• Make a to-do list: The first requirement for tracking the completion of steps is
to determine every task that needs to be done. Write down each task on a
separate card so that the entire project’s tasks are recorded.
• Divide the process: Kanban’s flow is simple: To Do, Doing, and Done are the
only three categories you need. Assign each task under the correct column,
and prioritize the steps that need to be done, so they’re completed in
sequential order.

4. Critical Path
The Critical Path method has been a cornerstone project management plan since
the 1940s. It involves first mapping out the most important tasks and then using
those to estimate the total amount of time the project will take to complete.
Because an end date is influenced by each task, this project management
methodology requires listing all tasks needed, how long they will take, and any
outside factors that may affect each milestone.

This concept lets you determine the “critical path” in easy steps. First, you
determine the longest stretch of activities that are linked dependent upon each
other and use that to project the length of completion time for the project.

How to use Critical Path

Critical Path is a rather straightforward project management technique, but it
should still be executed with exacting standards.

• Define scope: Before you begin to implement Critical Path, you need to define
all tasks that need to be completed for a project to be complete. Then, from
that list, identify which ones are dependent upon others being completed first.

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 • Accept multiple paths: You may have more than one critical path in a project.
Some activities may not rely on others within a critical path, and instead lie
outside the main plan, but they are still relevant to track and complete.

5. Extreme
This project management technique sounds more intense than it is. Despite its
hardcore name, it emphasizes planning flexibility, openness, and collaboration.
Extreme puts the focus back on the human element and potential for change over
rigid methods or stages, making it ideal for larger and more complex projects,
especially where there are many outside factors and uncertainty.

How to use Extreme

Before you dive into Extreme project management, you should shore up a few
things first.

• Schedule cycles: Because the focus is fast-paced and open to change, you
should plan your work in short cycles.
• Follow-up: At the end of each cycle, you should plan for time to check-in,
assess the status, and adjust where needed.

Should you use a project management

software for these techniques?
Often, a project is simply too complex to keep track of on your own. That’s where
project management software can be a blessing, depending on the needs of your
work.

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 You may need project management software for these
techniques if:
• Your project has many tasks and teammates: A visualization software may
be useful if you’re using a project management technique such as kanban and
need to see a project’s multiple action steps and contributors. Software such
as Asana is an excellent option for not only viewing individual actions but
"prioritizing the team as well as the project manager,” according to The
Blueprint's project management expert Nicholas Morpus.
• You anticipate outside influences: The best-laid plans are easiest to
complete when you control everything. So if factors outside your control may
influence your project, this can help you track the whirlwind.
• You’re managing multiple projects: One project can be a lot to keep track
of, but if you’re leading more than one, software can help you stay on top of
each project.

You can forego the software for these project

management techniques if:
• Your project is simple: If you have a project that fits easily into a short,
straightforward waterfall-type method, software might be overkill.
• Your team is small: If you don’t have several people to keep track of, you
might not need software to keep tabs on people or projects.

Picking the right project management

method
Throughout your career, you’ll surely have a number of different projects to
manage. Mastering a few of these techniques means you’ll be able to adjust and
conquer any challenge.

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 The Motley Fool has a Disclosure Policy. The Author and/or The Motley Fool may have an interest in
companies mentioned.

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